By Adaeze Onuora, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Government has released the sum of N3,851,763,617.65. to commence immediate payment of gratuity to retirees civil servants in the state, starting from September 21, 2023.
The State Commissioner For Information and State Orientation, Jude Chikadibia Okpor who disclosed this on Thursday while briefing journalists in Abakaliki, on the outcome of the state Executive Council meeting
The Commissioner revealed that EXCO had earlier received a preliminary report on the number of present retirees in Ebonyi civil servants while the sum of about N4.3 billion was earmarked for the exercise.
According to him " Following the actual compilation and computation by the Gratuity Committee and other relevant organs of government with actual available data, made it was found out that the total of eligible beneficiaries (retirees) at present is 1,715 which amounted to the approved sum at the council deliberations.
Okpor noted that out of 17, 834 applications have been received by the State Civil Service Commission in the ongoing recruitment of 1,454 workers ordered by Governor Francis Nwifuru.
He, therefore stated that out of the 17,834 applicants who submitted applications for employment, only 5,352 met the requirement of submitting Original Certificates, with their applications while the rest submitted their statements of results.
"The council resolved to uphold the submission of Original Certificates criteria for eligibility for shortlisting with a provision that opportunities should be given to those who did not attach their certificates but are able to provide theirs before the screening date.
He explained that Governor Francis Nwifuru who is the Chairman of the executive council emphasized that the recruitment should be merit-based so as to give all applicants equal opportunity to compete for the job, adding that the council has urged the Civil Service Commission to fast track the recruitment process to ensure that the exercise was concluded as soon as possible.
Commissioner for Information further disclosed that Council has received a progress report from the State Palliative Committee which assured that plans have reached advanced stage for the distribution of over 100, 000 bags of rice and other materials to vulnerable households in the State. added that Council charged the committee to hasten arrangements for immediate distribution of the palliatives in the state.
